Freiburg Minster ( German : Freiburger Münster or Münster Unserer Lieben Frau ) is the cathedral of Freiburg im Breisgau , southwest Germany . The last duke of Zähringen had started the building around 1200 in romanesque style. The construction continued in 1230 in Gothic style. The minster was partly built on the foundations of an original church that had been there from the beginning of Freiburg, in 1120.
37-518: In the Middle Ages, Freiburg lay in the Diocese of Konstanz . In 1827, Freiburg Minster became the seat of the newly established Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg , and thus a cathedral. The Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt once said that the church's 116-meter tower will forever remain the most beautiful spire on earth . His remark gave rise to the frequently heard misquote of the most beautiful tower in
74-574: A hydrological point of view, therefore, the Rhine is a tributary of the Aare, not vice versa. The Rhine is, however, generally considered the main stream, because it is slightly longer than the Aare. The Rhine Falls ( Rheinfall ), which are the largest plain waterfalls of Europe , are in the municipalities of Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Laufen-Uhwiesen , near the town of Schaffhausen . They are 150 metres (490 ft) wide and 23 metres (75 ft) high. In
111-527: A supporting material. It now weighs over a ton, and so must be carried from the workshop with heavy machinery for its use during Lent . The cathedral holds 19 bells, altogether 25 tonnes, making it one of the largest peals in Germany. From the time of its construction, the cathedral was not owned by the Roman Catholic Church but by the people of Freiburg. In the Middle Ages, the situation changed so that
148-793: The Basel Connecting Line (between Basel SBB and Basel Bad Bf), the Turgi–Koblenz–Waldshut railway line between Koblenz and Waldshut, the Eglisau–Neuhausen railway line (between Eglisau and Hüntwangen-Wil ), the Rheinfall Railway line (between Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall and Neuhausen), the Lake Line between Feuerthalen and Schaffhausen, and the Etzwilen–Singen railway line (between Etzwilen and Hemishofen , used as
185-673: The Middle Bridge in Basel . The old wooden bridge between Gailingen and Diessenhofen is low so that during times when the water level of the river is high, large ships can no longer pass underneath it. Numerous areas along the High Rhine are currently, or were historically considered important. From west to east, they are Dinkelberg , Augstgau , Fricktal , Table Jura , Albgau , Aargau , Hotzenwald , Klettgau , Zurzibiet , Zürichgau , Hegau and Thurgau . There are passenger boat lines on
222-572: The Rhine ) is the name of the part of the Rhine between Lake Constance ( Bodensee ) and the city of Basel , flowing in a general east-to-west direction and forming mostly the Germany–Switzerland border . It is the first of four named sections of the Rhine (High Rhine, Upper Rhine , Middle Rhine , Lower Rhine ) between Lake Constance and the river delta at the North Sea . The term High Rhine
259-715: The Winterthur–Bülach–Koblenz railway line (between Koblenz and Eglisau ), the Eglisau–Neuhausen railway line between Neuhausen Rheinfall and Neuhausen (briefly venturing through German territory through the Jestetter Zipfel ), the Rheinfall Railway line (between Dachsen and Schaffhausen ), and the Lake Line between Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein . The High Rhine is crossed by (from west to east)
296-567: The diocese of the same name, which was considerably larger (see map), covering much of present-day Baden-Württemberg , a large part of Switzerland all the way south to the Gotthard Pass , as well as a small part of Vorarlberg , Austria . While the Prince-Bishop was the secular ruler in his prince-bishopric, his authority in his diocese was limited to the pastoral duties exercised by any bishop. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Constance, one of
333-481: The High Rhine are, in the order of their confluences , the Biber , Durach , Thur , Töss , Glatt , Wutach , Aare , Alb , Murg , Sissle , Wehra , Ergolz and Birs . The High Rhine's drainage basin measures 24,900 km (9,600 sq mi). With 557 cubic metres per second (19,700 cu ft/s), the Aare has a larger discharge than the Rhine (439 cubic metres per second (15,500 cu ft/s)). From
370-730: The High Rhine flows mostly from east to west. Between Schaffhausen and the confluence with the Töss , it flows from north to south for about 20 km (12 mi), with a distinct meander at Rheinau . In its eastern portion, the river passes through the Molasse basin (passing south of the Hegau region), while in its western part it traverses the Table Jura before entering the Upper Rhine Plain at Basel, where it turns northwards. In its western section,
407-478: The High Rhine has eleven dams and twelve hydropower plants (there are two plants at the Augst/Wyhlen Dam . Some parts of the High Rhine valley are fairly wide, while others are more gorge-like. The population density varies accordingly. Prominent towns on the High Rhine include Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Waldshut , Laufenburg , Bad Säckingen , Rheinfelden and Basel . Some towns on
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#1732858385426444-516: The High Rhine mostly marks the border between Germany and Switzerland except in the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt . In the eastern part, there are several disconnected areas of Switzerland to the north of the river ( canton of Schaffhausen and Rafzerfeld of the canton of Zurich). The German enclave of Büsingen am Hochrhein is located on the northern bank of the High Rhine, surrounded by Swiss territory. Apart from many creeks, larger tributaries of
481-888: The Höri peninsula and the High Rhine in the west along Untersee with the Monastic Island of Reichenau , the Bodanrück peninsula, and Lake Überlingen to the Linzgau region in the northeast. This did not include the Imperial City of Constance nor Petershausen Abbey . In the south, the bishop's territory bordered on the Landgraviate of Thurgau which was conquered by the Swiss Confederacy in 1460. The Imperial state should not be confused with
518-627: The Prince-Bishop was finally moved to Meersburg across Lake Constance. However, Constance fell to the Counter-Reformation promoted by the Habsburgs, who eventually abolished its status as a free imperial city and incorporated it into their Further Austrian possessions in 1548. The huge diocese of Constance suffered heavily during the Reformation and it lost several hundred parishes, convents and other Catholic foundations which were suppressed by
555-678: The Rhine is located in Schaffhausen; it has a damming effect to slightly above Diessenhofen. The next power plant ( Kraftwerk Reckingen ) is located at Rekingen and Küssaberg . After Rekingen, the High Rhine flows freely through the Koblenz Rapids to the confluence with the Aare . The next hydropower plant (the Kraftwerk Albbruck-Dogern ), is at Leibstadt and Dogern . There are seven more power plants between here and Basel. Altogether,
592-499: The Swiss areas were incorporated in the Diocese of Basel. As a result of these changes, the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden, parts of Uri, Glarus and Zürich were assigned provisionally to the administration of the Diocese of Chur, an arrangement still enduring. High Rhine High Rhine ( German : Hochrhein , pronounced [ˈhoːxˌʁaɪn] ; kilometres 0 to 167 of
629-577: The Younger in a side chapel. See also: Freiburg Altarpiece The inner portal contains sculptures of the Ten Virgins . The nave windows were donated by the guilds , and the symbols of the guilds are featured on them. The deep red color in some of the windows is not the result of a dye, but instead the result of a suspension of solid gold nanoparticles . In 2003, the Lenten cloth was restored and backed with
666-526: The building and its interior. The present architect in charge is Yvonne Faller and the chair of the association is Sven von Ungern-Sternberg. Diocese of Konstanz The Prince-Bishopric of Constance ( German : Hochstift Konstanz, Fürstbistum Konstanz, Bistum Konstanz ) was a small ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from the mid-12th century until its secularisation in 1802–1803. In his dual capacity as prince and as bishop,
703-544: The building was self-owned, and administered by a guardian appointed by the people of the city. More recently, the Münsterbauverein association was created, which now legally owns the cathedral. For the conservation of the cathedral, the Freiburger Münsterbauverein ("Freiburg Minster-Upkeep Association") was established. The association invests several million euros each year in the care and maintenance of
740-535: The death of the last bishop Karl Theodor von Dalberg in 1817. While Wessenberg was supported by the government of Baden, the Pope never recognized his election on account of Wessenberg's liberal views. By a bull of 16 August 1821, the pope dissolved the diocese in order to prevent Wessenberg from becoming bishop. The area of the diocese in Baden became part of the newly established Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg in 1827 while
777-433: The houses on the west and north side of the market. The tower was subject to severe vibration at the time, and its survival of these vibrations is attributed to its lead anchors, which connect the sections of the spire. The windows had been taken out of the spire at the time by church staff led by Monsignor Max Fauler, and so these also suffered no damage. Freiburg Minster was not the seat of a bishop until 1827, long after it
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#1732858385426814-725: The largest dioceses of Germany, was founded in the late 6th century in the course of the Christianization of the Alamanni tribes around Lake Constance and the Upper Rhine. Originally subordinated to the Archdiocese of Besançon, Constance became suffragan to the Archdiocese of Mainz in 782. A deed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1155 confirmed the princely status of the bishop and of his bishopric as an Imperial Estate . The territory of
851-578: The lower High Rhine ( Rheinfelden – Basel ), between Eglisau and Ellikon am Rhein (municipality of Marthalen ) and on the upper High Rhine and Untersee ( Schaffhausen – Konstanz ). There are also boat tours between Eglisau and the Rhine Falls ( Rheinfall ), including the Rhine Falls Rock, and between the Rhine Falls and Rekingen . The High Rhine Railway line follows the lower section of
888-467: The lower section of the river, which here corresponds to the Germany–Switzerland border , are located on both banks, such as Laufenburg (Aargau) and Laufenburg (Baden) and Rheinfelden (Aargau) and Rheinfelden (Baden) . The most important organizations for cross-border cooperation on the High Rhine are High Rhine Commission and High Rhine Agency. Authorities on the Baden-Württemberg side of
925-802: The north of it. The High Rhine begins at the outflow of the Rhine from the Untersee (Lower Lake Constance) in Stein am Rhein and turns into the Upper Rhine at the Rhine knee ( Rheinknie ) in Basel (more precisely at the Middle Bridge ). It is marked by Rhine-kilometers 0 to 167, with the measurements beginning at the outflow from the Obersee (Upper Lake Constance) at the Old Rhine Bridge in Konstanz (Constance), although
962-618: The part between the Upper and Lower Lake Constance is distinguished as the Seerhein (English: Lake Rhine ) and the part of Lower Lake Constance through which the Rhine flows is known as the Rheinsee . Therefore, the High Rhine begins at Rhine-kilometer 25.45. In contrast to the Alpine Rhine (the main tributary of Lake Constance) and Upper Rhine, which both flow mainly in a south-to-north direction,
999-455: The prince-bishop also administered the Diocese of Konstanz , which existed from about 585 until its dissolution in 1821, and whose territory extended over an area much larger than the principality. It belonged to the ecclesiastical province of Mainz since 780/782. The Imperial immediate territory of the prince-bishopric was scattered on both sides of western Lake Constance , stretching from
1036-515: The prince-bishopric contracted during the following centuries under pressure from both the Swiss Confederacy and the House of Habsburg . Furthermore, the city of Constance was granted the status of a free imperial city and from then on the bishop's sovereignty in the city was restricted to a small area around the cathedral. In 1527, during the Protestant Reformation, the administrative seat of
1073-580: The river (between Basel Bad Bf and Waldshut ) along its northern banks, but then runs further north to it in its upper section (except in Schaffhausen). On the Swiss side, the river is followed by (from west to east) the Bözberg railway line (between Pratteln and Stein-Säckingen ) the Koblenz–Stein-Säckingen railway line (section between Laufenburg and Koblenz is closed to passenger trains),
1110-478: The river are organized in a framework called Regionalverband Hochrhein-Bodensee ("Regional cooperation High Rhine — Lake Constance"). Several bridges cross the High Rhine, including a few historic ones. Examples are (in direction of waterflow): Eglisau railway bridge in Eglisau , Waldshut–Koblenz Rhine Bridge between Koblenz and Waldshut-Tiengen , the wooden bridge between Stein and Bad Säckingen or
1147-668: The river's course during the Würm ice age . In Neuhausen am Rheinfall, the river falls into a previously buried stream channel, forming the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. The next rapids are the Kadelburg Rapids at Koblenz . Near Laufenburg , the post-glacial Rhine failed to find the old silted-up channel and hit a spur of Black Forest crystal. The river cut itself a gorge, containing the Laufenburg Rapids. The Laufenburg and Schwörstadt Rapids have been artificially eliminated by blowing up
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1184-421: The rocks and raising the water level with dams. The character of the river has been changed over long distances by the construction of hydropower stations . The Laufenburg and Schwörstadt rapids were removed by blowing up rocks, originally to improve navigation, and later flooded due to the hydropower dams. Between Stein am Rhein and Diessenhofen , the High Rhine is not dammed . The first power plant along
1221-638: The various states, free imperial cities and cantons in Swabia and Switzerland that had become Protestant. In the course of the German Mediatisation in 1803, the Prince-Bishopric was dissolved and its territory was annexed to the Margraviate of Baden. In turn, the diocese was dissolved by Pope Pius VII in 1821 after Vicar General Ignaz Heinrich von Wessenberg had been elected diocesan administrator upon
1258-408: The whole of Christianity . The tower is nearly square at the base, and at its centre is the dodecagonal star gallery. Above this gallery, the tower is octagonal and tapered, and above this, is the spire. It is the only Gothic church tower in Germany that was completed in the Middle Ages (1330), and has lasted until the present, surviving the bombing raids of November 1944, which destroyed all of
1295-404: The winter months, the average water flow is 250 cubic metres per second (8,800 cu ft/s), while in the summer, the average water flow is 600 cubic metres per second (21,000 cu ft/s). The rapids in the High Rhine should be viewed in the context of the relatively high slope—from 395 to 252 metres (1,296 to 827 ft) a.s.l. in just 165 kilometres (103 mi)—and the change of
1332-503: Was built. The tower has 16 bells, the oldest being the "Hosanna" bell from 1258, which weighs 3,290 kilograms. This bell can be heard on Thursday evening after the Angelus , on Friday at 11:00 am (a time consequently known as "Spätzleglocke"), on Saturday evenings, and each year on 27 November in remembrance of the air raid. There are two important altars inside the cathedral: the high altar of Hans Baldung , and another altar of Hans Holbein
1369-512: Was introduced by scientists in the 19th century. Above all geologists tried to differentiate the High Rhine ( German : Hochrhein ) linguistically from the Upper Rhine ( French : Rhin Supérieur , German : Oberrhein ). Until the 19th century, it was also known as the 'Badisch-Swiss Rhine'. It lends its name to the High Rhine Railway line, which to a great extend follows the river to
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